Saturday, November 11, 2006

Veterans Day 2006

While I've never supported the war, I have always supported our men and women who voluntarily give their lives for service to our country. As our troops return home from this latest conflict, let all of us remember to extend a hand, thank them for their service and make sure that our government provides for them as they should. For those who've been mentally or physically wounded, these wounds heal slowly, but the scars and memories will last a lifetime. And... for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice, we thank you and your families for your commitment and dedication.

November 11, or what has come to be known as Veterans Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor Armistice Day - the end of World War I, which officially took place on November 11, 1918. In legislature that was passed in 1938, November 11 was "dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as 'Armistice Day.' As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans.

In 1954, after having been through both World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, November 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

In 1968, the Uniforms Holiday Bill ensured three-day weekends for Federal employees by celebrating four national holidays on Mondays: Washington's Birthday, Memorial Day, Veterans Day, and Columbus Day. Under this bill, Veterans Day was moved to the last Monday of October. Many states did not agree with this decision and continued to celebrate the holiday on its original date. The first Veterans Day under the new law was observed with much confusion on October 25, 1971.

Finally on September 20, 1975, President Gerald R. Ford signed a law which returned the annual observance of Veterans Day to its original date of November 11, beginning in 1978. Since then, the Veterans Day holiday has been observed on November 11.

Thanks to this soldiers blog for his photo with Cooper while broadcasting from a forward operating base in Kabul, Afghanistan in September 2006.

Publicado por Jennifer en 9:12 AM  

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1 comentarios:

courtney01 said...

"the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month" is how I was taught in history class.

Two of my great-uncles were veterans of armed conflict. One served in Sicily during World War II, and the other saw action in Korea. My father also served in the Navy but never saw combat. I'm not sure how he got out of Vietnam.

I can't imagine how all the families who have lost someone feel. It is a loss greater than I'd be willing to bear--and for that reason, I am thankful to all who serve.

11/11/2006 12:33 PM  

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